Even in ancient times, people knew that a broken arm or leg can be restored only if it is provided with complete peace. For immobilization, tires, immobilizing dressings and plaster were always used. Their timely application largely determines the success of treatment. Modern medicine does not stand still, so in the field of orthopedics there are more and more new methods and technologies. For example, gypsum, being one of the oldest materials used in practice, received a new plastic configuration. She copes with the tasks set perfectly, while devoid of a number of shortcomings, which previously could not be eliminated.
A unique innovation in the field of traumatology
Anyone who has ever broken a arm or leg knows what inconvenience the old massive gypsum brought. With him, a person was completely deprived of the opportunity to enjoy life. You could not even take a bath. And such torment had to endure depending on the severity of the injury from several months to a year. This state of affairs led to the fact that gypsum-containing materials began to become obsolete. Synthetic polymer bandages are already replacing them today. Plastic plaster for fractures relieves the patient of a sense of inferiority. The patient feels it as a simple dressing, providing the necessary position for bone fusion.
Types of Plastic Plaster
There are several types of synthetic polymer bandages: scotchcast, softcast, NM castes, turbocast. Each of them has its own field of application, as well as advantages and disadvantages.
Scotchcast has the best weight characteristics. Plastic gypsum on the leg of such a material will practically not be felt. An important quality is that it provides air access to the limbs. In order to apply gypsum from scotchcast, no sophisticated equipment is required. The material does not even dry out when solidified. Especially it will be "to the taste" of lovers to paint and "tune" their gypsum, as it is available in various colors.
The disadvantages of Scotchcast include the fact that it can only be used in conjunction with a special rag-cotton stocking. This, in turn, means that it is undesirable to wet it, since the cotton wool will dry for a very long time, which will lead to the appearance of an unpleasant odor and diaper rash. In addition, such a plaster can only be removed with a special tool.
Softcast is a kind of addition to scotchkast. This is an elastic material used more often with dislocations and in the postoperative period. It is convenient in that when edema appears, it can stretch and take on new forms. In case of fractures, they are wrapped in plastic gypsum made of scotchcast.
HM-cast is a synthetic mesh with large cells. It is very light, can be superimposed and removed. All manipulations with it are best done with rubber gloves, since when it dries, it adheres very strongly to the skin. It is also possible to use NM castes only with a special synthetic stocking. Most often it is used as plastic plaster on the arm.
The most common material used in traumatology is gradually becoming turbocast. This material has impressive durability. When heated above 40 degrees, it becomes ductile, which allows it to be applied directly to a damaged surface without unnecessary difficulties. The absence of a cotton stocking means that you can safely take a bath in it. Another amazing feature that this plastic gypsum has is its working memory. Thanks to it, the material can take its original shape if it is reheated, which allows the use of turbocast repeatedly.
The advantages of plastic gypsum
In order to understand whether it is worth using plastic gypsum, it is necessary to conduct a comparative description and summarize all its advantages. The main achievement of synthetic polymeric materials is that they simultaneously possess such properties as lightness and strength. Turbocast, for example, outperforms the traditional gypsum cuff in both of these ways.
Everyone who has ever broken a leg should remember the appearance of an unpleasant itch under a thick white crust, which you canβt climb under. Medical gypsum is free from this drawback, as it has a porous structure and freely passes air.
Before, with a broken leg, it was very difficult to go for a walk in the cold season. A lot of socks were put on the cast, but that didn't help much. Plastic plaster, the photo of which is presented below, allows you to wear shoes with great comfort and feel like a full-fledged person.
In the good old days, after the bone had grown together, the patient had an unpleasant procedure for removing the cuff. Gypsum for a long time almost merged with the skin, and therefore it was not easy to remove it. Synthetic materials have a smooth texture of the outer layer, and therefore gypsum made from them is easily removed.
The disadvantages of plastic gypsum
With so many advantages, it seems that there should be no drawbacks at all. To some extent this is true, but nevertheless it is necessary to note the high cost of the procedure. In addition, not every clinic practices such treatment methods.
Plaster cast of plastic
Depending on what material gypsum is made of, it can be applied in different ways. If it is scotchcast, softcast or NM castes, then for their use special stockings are required, which serve as a layer between the skin and the external corset.
Turbocast is an unlined version of plastic gypsum. Today it is gaining more and more popularity. This is largely due to the ease of its imposition. All that is required is to heat it to a temperature of 60 degrees so that it becomes ductile, then allow it to cool to 35-40 degrees and lay on the damaged surface. This technology allows you to achieve full compliance with the contours of gypsum and the surface of the body.
Removing plastic plaster
At home, it is unlikely to remove plastic plaster. Such manipulations can only be done with softcast. As for all other synthetic materials, they are removed using a special tool called tibiofibular syndesmosis. Outwardly, he is very similar to a grinder, which causes patients to panic. There is really nothing terrible - the working surface of the tool does not rotate, but only slightly vibrates, therefore it can not do harm.
The price of plaster made of plastic
If we compare the prices for gypsum-containing and synthetic materials, then of course the first ones will benefit. The usual cuff can be applied at any clinic absolutely free, while you will have to pay for new technologies. The prices for gypsum casting from turboplast are as follows: 11,000 rubles per foot and 9,000 per hand.
conclusions
In conclusion, it should be noted that the use of synthetic materials in traumatology avoids complications in 90% of cases. This technology is the future, but at the moment it is not widespread due to the novelty, as well as the high price of services for applying plastic plaster.
However, patients who have tried this technique unanimously say that it is very convenient. Other things being equal, ordinary gypsum does not withstand any competition.